Children living with disabilities in Lagos State and its environs may now heave a sigh of relief as Lagos State Government, some parents and medical experts have agreed to take concerted efforts against disabilities in children.

They reached the consensus at the first ‘Stakeholders Summit on Disability’ organized by the office of the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Social Development. The Summit, whose theme was Ability in Disability: A Stitch in Time Saves Nine, was held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on Tuesday.

Addressing participants at the occasion, the Executive Governor of the State, Mr. AkinwunmiAmbode, represented by Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Dr. IdiatAdebule, said the state government had decided that every category of people necessary must henceforth align forces to make life more meaningful for children living in disabilities.

The governor said early intervention of disability in the affected children would help a lot in giving hope of a meaningful life to those children. As a result of that, he said the concept of early intervention was targeted at parents and guardians of the target children. His words: “Early intervention of disabilities in children will afford you the opportunity to do what is needful medically. Since nothing can be done to change the circumstances of those children, you must show them the abilityto support them in harnessing their potentials.”

In her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Development, Mrs. Joyce Onafowokan, disclosed that the governor’s inaugural speech in which Governor Ambode advised that our circumstances should not be obstacles to our dreams with the promise that the issues of disability will receive greater attention this year necessitated the Summit.

According to her, too often, some professionals make the mistake of telling parents what they need only, in handling disability in children. However, she said with the Summit, the State Government was beginning a new journey because we are putting systems in place to be better at early diagnosis and intervention.

She said: “We are here to ask you to join us. We want to listen to you. We want to know how we, all, collectively, in partnership can better the lives of our children.One thing I want you to know is that being here at this Summit, is our first step in the mandate that His Excellency gave to us.We will get there but we must agree to move. We must agree on where we want to get to and how we intend to get there.”

In his keynote address delivered at the Summit, Professor Julius Ademokoya, Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, said there is no person with disabilities without abilities for one’s good and the good of humanity; provided necessary assistance is given.

He therefore advised that some programmes and procedures must be put in place to ensure early identification of disabilities. Among the programmes he suggested are: Antenatal Disability Screening, Newborn Screening and Ability/Disability Assessment.

For the way forward, Professor Ademokoya said Intervention programmes for managing disabilities should target establishing Special Needs Education (SNE) that would provide the required education to curtail disabilities, educate persons with disabilities and sieve out abilities from disabilities.

He insisted that adequate support must be guaranteed for persons living with disabilities through: Attitudinal change programmes, Instituting necessary legislations and Highlighting capabilities and achievement of persons living with disabilities.

Similarly, Dr. (Mrs.) BarakatAnimasahun, Associate Professor/ Consultant Paediatrician, College of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, said disability in children can lead to stigma and discrimination; poor caregiver interaction; institutionalization; violence, abuse and neglect; as well as limited access to programmes and services.According to her, all these easily lead to poor survival, development and failure to reach full potential.

Meanwhile, Animasahun stated that there is ability in disability; as a result of that she advised people to always highlight more the positive side of disability over adverse side. She advised that prevention of conditions causing disability should usually be prevented.

According to her, some of the causes of disabilities in children can be reversed if they are discovered early enough ad necessary intervention measures are taken.

L-R: John Ugbe, Managing Director, Multichoice Nigeria; Fela Ibidapo, Group Head, Corporate Communications, Heritage Bank; and Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing & Sales, Multichoice Nigeria; during the launching of Big Brother Naija- Season 3, which Heritage Bank is one of the lead sponsors.